Indian envoy appreciates smooth vaccination drive in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: The High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay called on Sri Lanka Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena at his residence on Wednesday.
He conveyed his greetings and good wishes to the Speaker and complimented Sri Lankan authorities for their efforts in combating COVID-19.
He appreciated the smooth manner in which vaccination drive was being carried out in Sri Lanka and expressed happiness at India playing an instrumental role in supporting Sri Lanka on this front.
He recalled the gesture of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa personally receiving the gift of 500,000 doses of made-in-India vaccine and reiterated that ongoing strong cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in jointly fighting the pandemic would continue.
The high commissioner stressed that India and Sri Lanka share democratic values and traditions, and it is a matter of honor for India to deploy its capabilities in the services of the people of Sri Lanka and their elected representatives.
The high commissioner also witnessed the Speaker being vaccinated with vaccine gifted by India at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita in Colombo in the presence of Army Commander General Shavendra Silva.
Guided by ‘Neighbourhood First’ and SAGAR policies, India has gifted millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to neighboring countries, and those in the Gulf and Indian Ocean since Jan. 20.
In addition, several millions of doses have also been exported to countries as far away as Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific among others.